Probing the Interactions of O₂ with Small Gold Cluster Anions (Au_<i>n</i>⁻, <i>n</i> = 1−7): Chemisorption vs Physisorption

Abstract

Activation of O(2) is the most critical step in catalytic oxidation reactions involving gold and remains poorly understood. Here we report a systematic investigation of the interactions between O(2) and small gold cluster anions Au(n)(-) (n = 1-7) using photoelectron spectroscopy. Higher resolution photoelectron spectra are obtained for the molecularly chemisorbed even-sized Au(n)O(2)(-) (n = 2, 4, 6) complexes. Well-resolved vibrational structures due to O-O stretching are observed and can be readily distinguished from the Au-derived PES bands. The adiabatic detachment energies and O-O vibrational frequencies are measured to be 3.03 +/- 0.04, 3.53 +/- 0.05, and 3.17 +/- 0.05 eV, and 1360 +/- 80, 1360 +/- 80, and 1330 +/- 80 cm(-1) for n = 2, 4, 6, respectively. Physisorbed Au(n)(-)(O(2)) complexes for n = 1, 3, 5, 7 are observed for the first time, providing direct evidence for the inertness of the closed-shell odd-sized Au(n)(-) clusters toward O(2). Neutral even-sized Au(n) clusters are closed-shell and are expected to be inert toward O(2), which is not consistent with the reduced O-O vibrational frequencies observed in the photoelectron spectra relative to free O(2). It is suggested that the photodetachment transitions can only access excited states of the neutral even-sized Au(n)O(2) complexes; a double-well potential is proposed consisting of the ground-state van der Walls well at long Au(n)-O(2) distances and a higher energy deeper well at short Au(n)-O(2) distances derived from singlet O(2) ((1)Delta(g)). The current study provides further insight into O(2) interactions with small gold clusters, as well as accurate experimental data to benchmark theoretical investigations.